Intel Core i3-530

2
Cores
4
Threads
2.93 GHz
Base Clock
Socket LGA 1156
Socket
73 W
TDP
Intel HD Graphics
Integrated Graphics
Release date:Jan 7, 2010Price at Launch:$60
Cores:2Threads:4
Base Clock:2.93 GHzType:Desktop
Multithreading:YesL2 Cache:512 KB
L3 Cache:4 MBBox Cooler:Yes
TDP:73 WSocket:Socket LGA 1156
Memory Support:DDR3-1333Codename:Clarkdale
Process Size:32 nmIntegrated Graphics:Yes
iGPU Model:Intel HD GraphicsNPU:No
PCIe Support:PCIe 2.0, 16 lanes

Reviews and Ratings

81

Average Score

Based on 6 reviews

Reviewers Liked

  • "Northbridge" module integration
  • New 32 nm process node
  • Low power consumption and heat output
  • Exceptional performance for a Dual Core processor
  • Overclocking potential
  • Speedy for the price
  • Decent on-chip graphics
  • Affordable

Reviewers Didn't Like

  • Quad core price tag for dual core processor
  • Memory and PCIE controller not in processor core
  • Older generation memory controller
  • No IGP control on P55 boards
  • Half of the Clarkdale chip is pure waste for gamers
  • Not as fast as AMD's similarly priced offering
  • Requires newest motherboard chipsets to enable on-chip graphics
90

AMD is well known for producing a range of good value for money processors which often excel in different areas such as thermal performance and low power draw. Today we are going to look at three...

By HardwareHeaven on
88

Core i3 540 is logically faster, but the additional 130 MHz come with a $15 price tag, and that brings this processor into the upper market class, ruled by quad core processors. There's little room here for Core i5 600, let alone Core i3 540, which...

By techPowerUp! on
79

The Core i3-530 can't keep up with AMD's similarly priced, quad-core Athlon II X4 635, but it does offer good performance and an opportunity to upgrade to Intel's faster chips down the road....

By Computer Shopper on
67

A capable and efficient processor, but launch prices aren't low enough to excite...

By PC Pro on
80

The Clarkdale Core i5 and Core i3 CPUs are worthy successors to the Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Duo and if you're looking to buy a new Intel system, there's really no way you ought to be looking at Core 2 chips any more, especially as the i3-530...

By Bit-tech.net on
80

Not quite the bargain we'd been hoping for, but a decent choice for a powerful media centre PC....

By Expert Reviews on

It offers pretty good performance,efficient power consumption. Its temperature under load is very respectable even with a stock cooler. * Test Bed: Intel Core i3 530 processor, Intel H55 reference motherboard, 2Gb (1800MHz) Patriot DDR3 RAMPage(s) ...

By PCQuest on

While a comparable AMD system is a tad cheaper, AMD does not cripple it's chipset and CPUs as much as Intel does. By cost per performance the performance as you have seen is on par, even hyperthreading on the i3 does work well. What is surprising,...

By Fudzilla on

What does it mean to run face-first into a bottleneck? When we talk about bottlenecks here on Tom's Hardware, we're usually referring to a single component that's preventing the rest of a PC from reaching its full performance potential in...

By Tom's Hardware UK on

While we’ve often seen so-called CPU bottlenecks impeding the performance of our multi-GPU systems, today’s highest-quality gaming test has proven that when it comes to single-GPU systems, even a high-performance card like the Radeon HD 5850...

By Tom's Hardware on

It's been awhile since Intel introduced any kind of "Extreme" edition CPU's. The new Core i7 980X represents just that - a new CPU that's supposed to be the fastest, the meanest, the conqueror, the benchmark for all...

By IT-Review on

At the conclusion of my first Clarkdale article I stated this: The exception to this? Extreme low cost requirements. You can get a Core i3 processor for $113 that will give you similar levels of CPU performance but without the Turbo Mode features. ...

By PCPer on